Optical recording medium, recording/reproducing apparatus, and recording/reproducing method

ABSTRACT

An information recording medium, on which when a spare area for a replacement block for replacing a defect block created in a predetermined area of an information recording medium is enlarged or newly allocated, defect status information of blocks within the enlarged or newly allocated spare area is changed and written on the information recording medium. By managing the defect status information of the blocks within the enlarged or newly allocated spare area, unnecessary operations of a drive system are eliminated thus improving efficiency of the drive system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/029,356,filed Jan. 6, 2005, which claims the benefit of Korean PatentApplication Nos. 2004-6473, 2004-14591, and 2004-40479, filed on Jan.31, 2004, Mar. 4, 2004 and Jun. 3, 2004, respectively, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an optical recording medium, arecording and/or reproducing apparatus, and a recording and/orreproducing method.

2. Description of the Related Art

To manage a defect on a recordable disc operating according to a digitalversatile disc (DVD) standard, a slipping replacement method is usedwhen the defect occurs while initializing a disc, and a defect sectorlocation replaced by slipping replacement is recorded in a primarydefect list (PDL) of a defect managing area of the disc withoutallocating it a logical sector number. Also, in a linear replacementmethod, a defect is replaced with a normal block in a spare area inunits of error correcting code blocks of an area where an error occurredwhen the defect occurs while using the disc and a defect block locationis recorded in a secondary defect list (SDL).

Such a spare area can be allocated when initializing the disc andadditional spare areas may be allocated while using the disc.

Defect management is performed to improve reliability of reproduction ofuser data recorded on a disc. That is, when a defect has occurred or itis determined that there is a high possibility of an occurrence of adefect while recording or reproducing the disc, the defect is replacedwith the spare area to improve reliability of the reproduction.

A defect list entry used in the linear replacement method is typicallydivided into status information, a physical address of a defect block,and a physical address of a replacement block.

The status information includes status information of a defect blockwith a replacement block, and status information of a defect blockwithout a replacement block.

The physical address of the defect block is limited to an address of auser data area within a disc so that it can be easily checked in areproducing process. That is, a host can find data recorded within theuser data area of the disc using a file system recorded on the disc, andwith this as a basis, the host can reproduce the user data recorded onthe disc. When the host tries to find a file system recorded on a discor tries to reproduce user data, it sends a request to reproduce datausing a logic address to a drive system. Then the drive systemreproduces data in the physical address corresponding to the logicaddress and transmits it to the host. Here, if a defect block exists inthe physical address corresponding to the logical address, the drivesystem will reproduce a replacement block as a replacement for thedefect block from a defect list entry within a defect list. Accordingly,as the defect management is used for improving reproducing reliabilityof the user data recorded within the user data area, the physicaladdress of the defect block of the defect list entry may be limited tothe address of the user data area of the disc.

Accordingly, it is not preferable that a defect list entry in blockswithin the enlarged or newly allocated spare area be left untouchedwithout any management. This is because if the defect list entry onblocks within the newly allocated or enlarged spare area is left as iswithout any changes, the defect list entry gets an address of the sparearea and not an address of the user data area.

In addition, in a medium where defects are managed by indicating whethereach block within a spare area can be used as a replacement in a defectlist entry, it is not preferable that the defect list entry within thefurther enlarged or newly allocated spare area be left unchanged.Furthermore, leaving the defect list entry as is causes confusion when adrive system reads the defect list, thus lowering the performance of thedrive system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided anoptical recording medium whereon information on defect status on blockscan be managed within a newly allocated or enlarged spare area forsubstituting a defect block in the medium, a recording and/orreproducing apparatus, and a recording and/or reproducing method.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided aninformation recording medium whereon status information of blocks in anenlarged or newly allocated spare area is changed when a spare area fora replacement block for replacing a defect block occurred in apredetermined area of the information recording medium is enlarged ornewly allocated while using the medium.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the statusinformation of the blocks in the enlarged or newly allocated spare areaindicates a defect block with a replacement block, a defect list entryincluding status information indicating that the replacement block andthe defect block are unusable replacement blocks may be recorded on theinformation recording medium. In this case, the defect block may berecorded as a defect list entry including status information indicatingthat it is an unusable replacement block, and the replacement block maybe recorded as a defect list entry indicating that it is a usablereplacement block.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the statusinformation of the blocks in the enlarged or newly allocated spare areaindicates a defect block without a replacement block, a defect listentry including status information indicating that the defect block is ausable replacement block may be recorded on the information recordingmedium.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the statusinformation of the blocks in the enlarged or newly allocated spare areaindicates a possible defective block, if a certification result of theblocks indicates that there is a defect in the possible defective block,a defect list entry including status information indicating that thepossible defective block is an unusable replacement block may berecorded on the information recording medium, and if a certificationresult of the blocks indicates that there is no defect in the possibledefective block, a defect list entry including status informationindicating that the possible defective block is a usable replacementblock may be recorded on the information recording medium.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the statusinformation of the blocks in the enlarged or newly allocated spare areaindicates a possible defective block, a defect list entry includingstatus information indicating that the possible defective block is anunusable replacement block or a defect list entry including statusinformation indicating that the possible defective block is a usablereplacement block may be recorded on the information recording mediumaccording to a selection of a drive manufacturer or a user.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the statusinformation of the block in the enlarged or newly allocated spare areais not recorded on the medium, a defect list entry including statusinformation indicating that the block is a usable replacement block maybe recorded on the medium.

Here, the status information is included in a defect list recorded on apredetermined area of the medium, and the defect list includes a defectlist header that includes general information of a defect and a defectlist entry that includes detailed information of the defect. Theinformation recording medium includes at least one of the information onthe number of defect blocks with a replacement block, the number ofdefect blocks, the number of usable spare blocks, the number of unusablespare blocks, and/or the number of possible defective blocks. The defectlist entry includes status information that indicates a defect status orusable status of blocks, information on a physical address of a defectblock, and information on a physical address of a replacement block. Thestatus information includes status of a defect block with a replacementblock, a status of a defect block without a replacement block, a statusof a usable block of a spare area, a status of an unusable block of aspare area, and a status of a possible defective block.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda write-once recording medium whereon status information of the blocksin an enlarged or newly allocated spare area is changed when a sparearea for a replacement block for replacing a defect block in apredetermined area of the medium is enlarged or newly allocated whileusing the medium.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the blocks in theenlarged or newly allocated spare area has been already used, a defectlist entry having status information indicating that the used block isan unusable replacement block may be recorded on the medium.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when the block in theenlarged or newly allocated spare area has not yet been used and statusinformation of the bocks are not yet written on the medium, a defectlist entry having status information indicating that the unused block isa usable replacement block may be recorded on the medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda computer readable recording medium having recorded thereon a programperforming a method of recording and/or reproducing data on/from aninformation recording medium written thereon. The recording and/orreproducing method includes, changing status information of blocks in anenlarged or newly allocated spare area when a spare area for areplacement block for replacing a defect block in a predetermined areaof the medium is enlarged or newly allocated while using the medium, andrecording the changed status information on the medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information recording medium in which a defect list entry is recordedon the medium indicating that a block within an enlarged or newlyallocated spare area is a usable or unusable replacement block when thespare area for a replacement block replacing a defect block is enlargedor newly allocated while using the medium.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when status informationof the block in the enlarged or newly allocated spare area indicates adefect block with a replacement block, the defect list entry mayindicate that the defect block and the replacement block are usable orunusable replacement blocks.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when status informationof the block in the enlarged or newly allocated spare area indicates adefect block without a replacement block, the defect list entry mayindicate that the defect block is a usable or unusable replacementblock.

According to an aspect of the present invention, when status informationof the block in the enlarged or newly allocated spare area indicates apossible defective block, the defect list entry may indicate that thepossible defective block is a usable or unusable replacement block.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda recording and/or reproducing apparatus that records or reproduces dataon or from an information recording medium. The recording and/orreproducing apparatus may include a controlling unit that controls thereading and/or writing unit to write a defect list entry indicating thata block within an enlarged or newly allocated spare area is a usable orunusable replacement block for replacement when the spare area for areplacement block for replacing a defect block in the medium is enlargedor newly allocated while using the medium.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of recording and/or reproducing data on/from an informationrecording medium. The method includes, recording a defect list entryindicating that a block within an enlarged or newly allocated spare areais a usable or unusable replacement block for a replacement when a sparearea for a replacement block for replacing a defect block in apredetermined area of the medium is enlarged or newly allocated whileusing the medium.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent and more readily appreciated from the following description ofthe embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a single recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a double recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a data format of a defect listaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a data format of a defect list entryillustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a reference diagram illustrating status information of thedefect list entry illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a reference diagram illustrating usage directions of a userdata area and a spare area in a single recording layer disc according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram illustrating usage directions of a userdata area and a spare area in a double recording layer disc according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are reference diagrams illustrating a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within a newly allocated sparearea according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are reference diagrams illustrating a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within an enlarged spare areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are reference diagrams illustrating a method ofchanging defect list entries of blocks within a newly allocated orenlarged spare area according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a view of a status of data of a defect list header rightbefore enlarging or allocating a spare area according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12B is a view of a status of data of the defect list header rightafter enlarging or allocating the spare area according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 13A through 13C are flowcharts illustrating a method of defectmanagement according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of defect management in aonce recording storage medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 15A and 15B are reference diagrams for describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within a newly allocated sparearea according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 16A and 16B are reference diagrams for describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within an enlarged spare areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 17A and 17B are reference diagrams for describing changing thelist entry of the blocks within the newly allocated or enlarged sparearea according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a view of a status of data of a defect list header rightafter enlarging or allocating the spare area according to an embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method of defect managementaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 20A and 20B are reference diagrams for describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within a newly allocated sparearea according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a method of defect management for arecordable optical recording medium according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 22 is a view of an exemplary method of processing a defect listentry for improving performance of a drive according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elementsthroughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain thepresent invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the recording and/or reproducing apparatus includesa reading and/or writing unit 2 and a controlling unit 1.

The reading and/or writing unit 2 includes a pickup device, and writesdata on a disc 4, which is an optical recording medium according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The controlling unit 1 controls reading and writing of data from and onthe disc 4 according to a predetermined file system. Particularly, whenthere is not enough space for writing a replacement block that replacesa defect that occurred in a spare area (a predetermined area of the disc4) allocated when initializing the disc 4, the controlling unit 1allocates a new spare area or enlarges the current spare area andmanages a defect status of blocks in a newly allocated spare area or theenlarged spare area.

The controlling unit 1 includes a system controller 10, a host interface(I/F) 20, a digital signal processor (DSP) 30, a radio frequencyamplifier (RF AMP) 40, and a servo 50.

To write data on the disc 4, the host I/F 20 receives a predeterminedwrite command from a host 3 and transmits the predetermined writecommand to the system controller 10. The system controller 10 controlsthe DSP 30 and the servo 50 in order to perform the write commandreceived from the host I/F 20. The DSP 30 adds additional data such asparity data for correcting an error of data that is to be written andreceived from the host I/F 20, performs an error correction code (ECC)encoding, and produces ECC blocks, which are error correction blocks,and then modulates the ECC blocks into a predetermined form. The RF AMP40 converts data output from the DSP 30 into an RF signal. The readingand/or writing unit 2 having the pickup device records the RF signalreceived from the RF AMP 40 onto the disc 4. The servo 50 receives acommand needed for servo control from the system controller 10 and theservo 50 controls the pickup device of the reading and/or writing unit2.

Particularly, the system controller 10 includes a defect manager 11 formanaging a defect status of the blocks of the enlarged or the newlyallocated spare area.

The defect manager 11 changes defect status information of the blockswithin the enlarged or the newly allocated spare area.

If defect status information of the block within the enlarged or thenewly allocated spare area indicates a defect block with a replacementblock, the defect manager 11 generates a defect list entry includingstatus information indicating that the defect block and the replacementblock are usable or unusable replacement blocks.

For example, the defect manager 11 controls the reading and/or writingunit 2 to record defect status information indicating that the defectblock and the replacement block are unusable replacement blocks. Inother words, a defect list entry is created including the defect statusinformation indicating that the defect block and the replacement blockare unusable replacement blocks, and the defect list entry is recordedon a predetermined area (i.e., a defect management area (DMA)) of thedisc 4. In addition, in this case, the defect manager 11 may control thereading and/or writing unit 2 to record the defect list entry includingthe status information indicating that the replacement block is anunusable replacement block and record a defect list entry includingstatus information indicating that the defect block is an unusablereplacement block.

Also, the defect manager 11 examines the block within the enlarged orthe newly allocated spare area and if defect status information of theblock indicates a defect block without a replacement block, the defectmanager 11 controls the reading and/or writing unit 2 so that the defectstatus information is recorded as a defect list entry including statusinformation indicating that a replacement block is usable or unusablefor replacement.

For example, when defect status information of the block within theenlarged or the newly allocated spare area indicates a replacement blockwithout a defect block, the defect manager 11 controls the readingand/or writing unit 2 to record a defect list entry including defectstatus information indicating that a replacement block is unusable.

Also, the defect manager 11 examines the block within the enlarged orthe newly allocated spare area and if defect status information of theblock indicates a possible defective block, the defect manager 11controls the reading and/or writing unit 2 so that the defect statusinformation is recorded as a defect list entry including statusinformation indicating that a replacement block is usable or unusable.

For example, when defect status information of the block within theenlarged or the newly allocated spare area indicates a possibledefective block, the defect manager 11 certifies whether there is adefect regarding the block, and controls the reading and/or writing unit2 to record a defect list entry including defect status informationindicating that a replacement block is unusable. If there is no defect,the defect manager 11 controls recording of a defect list entryincluding defect status information indicating that a replacement blockis usable.

The certification means checking whether a block has a defect. Forexample, a certification method includes “verify after write.”

Also, when defect status information of the block within the enlarged orthe newly allocated spare area indicates a possible defective block, thedefect manager 11 may control the reading and/or writing unit 2 torecord a defect status information indicating that a replacement blockis usable according to a selection of a user or a drive manufacturer.

In addition, when defect status information of the block within theenlarged or the newly allocated spare area is not recorded, the defectmanager 11 controls the reading and/or writing unit 2 to record a defectlist entry including defect status information indicating that areplacement block is usable.

Particularly, if the disc 4 is a write-once disc, when the block withinthe enlarged or the newly allocated spare area is used, the defectmanager 11 controls recording of a defect list entry including defectstatus information indicating that a replacement block is unusable. Thisis because the block cannot be written again even through there is adefect in a recorded block.

Also, when the disc 4 is a write-once disc, and the block within theenlarged or the newly allocated spare area is not yet used and defectstatus information of the block is not recorded, the defect manager 11controls recording of a defect list entry including defect statusinformation indicating that a replacement block is usable. Although datacannot be recorded again in the write-once disc, the disc may have adefect list entry including defect status information according to apredetermined rule. Thus, a replacement block that is usable when notyet used and having no defect list entry may be indicated.

To reproduce data from the disc 4, the host I/F 20 receives areproduction command from the host 3. The system controller 10 performsinitialization needed for data reproduction. The reading and/or writingunit 2 emits a laser beam onto the disc 4, and outputs an optical signalobtained by receiving the laser beam reflected from the disc 4. The RFAMP 40 converts the optical signal output from the reading and/orwriting unit 2 into an RF signal, and provides modulated data obtainedfrom the RF signal to the DSP 30 while providing a servo signal to theservo 50 for a control obtained from the RF signal. The DSP 30demodulates the modulated data, and outputs data obtained by performingan ECC error correction. Meanwhile, the servo 50 receives the servosignal from the RF AMP 40 and the command for the servo control from thesystem controller 10, and performs the servo control on the pickup. Thehost I/F 20 transmits the data received from the DSP 30 to the host 3.

A structure of the optical recording medium according to an embodimentof the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a single recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the disc includes a lead-in area at an innercircumference, a lead-out area at an outer circumference, and a dataarea therebetween in a radial direction of the disc.

The lead-in area includes a DMA # 2, a recording or writing conditiontest area, and a DMA # 1. The data area includes a spare area # 1, auser data area, and a spare area # 2. The lead-out area includes a DMA#3 and a DMA# 4.

The DMA is an area to record defect management information in are-writable information storage medium. The DMA is either at an innerarea or an outer area of the disc 4.

A user of a drive manufacturer may decide sizes and whether to allocatespare areas to write a replacement block to replace a defect block whenthe defect has occurred in a predetermined area of the user data area ofthe disc 4 when initializing the data area. Alternatively, the spareareas may be newly allocated or enlarged while using the disc 4.

Defect management information that is recorded on the DMA is composed ofa defect list for defect information and a disc definition structure(DDS), which has information on a structure of a data area.

The defect list includes a defect list header and a defect list entry. Aformat of the defect list will be described in more detail withreference to FIG. 4 later.

The recording condition test area is for determining optimum recordingpower by testing various recording powers according to a write strategyand variables according to the write strategy.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a double recording layer discaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, one recording layer L0 includes a lead-in area # 0,a data area, and a lead-out area # 0, and another recording layer L1includes a lead-in area # 1, a data area, and a lead-out area # 1.

The lead-in area # 0 of the L0 layer includes a DMA # 2, a recording orwriting condition test area, and a DMA # 1. The data area of the L0layer includes a spare area # 1, a user data area, and a spare area # 2.The lead-out area # 0 of the L0 layer includes a DMA # 3 and a DMA # 4.

The lead-in area # 0 of the L1 layer includes a DMA # 2, a recording orwriting condition test area, and a DMA # 1. The data area of the L1layer includes a spare area # 4, a user data area, and a spare area # 3.The lead-out area # 1 of the L1 layer includes a DMA # 3 and a DMA # 4.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of a data format of a defect list 400according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the defect list 400 includes a defect list header410 and a defect list entry 420.

The defect list header 410 comprises number information for a defectmanagement of blocks. The defect list header 410 includes information ona number 412 of defect blocks with a replacement block, a number 413 ofdefect blocks without a replacement block, a number 414 of usable spareblocks, a number 415 of non-usable spare blocks, and a number 416 ofpossible defective blocks.

The number 412 of the defect blocks with the replacement block denotes anumber of defect list entries having defect status informationindicating that defect blocks have been replaced with replacement blockswithin a spare area.

The number 413 of the defect blocks without the replacement blockdenotes a number of defect list entries having defect status informationindicating a defect block without a replacement block within a sparearea.

The number 414 of the usable spare blocks denotes a number of defectlist entries having defect status information indicating a block thatcan be used as a replacement among blocks that are not replaced within aspare area.

The number 415 of the non-usable spare blocks denotes a number of defectlist entries having defect status information indicating a block thatcannot be used as a replacement among blocks that are not replacedwithin a spare area.

The number 416 of the possible defective blocks denotes a number ofdefect list entries having defect status information indicating a blockwith a possible but not yet verified defect among blocks within a userdata area.

The defect list entry 420 is a collection of defect list entries havingdefect status information on blocks. The defect list entry 420 includesa defect list entry # 1 421, a defect list entry # 2 422, . . . , and adefect list entry # N 423.

FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of a data format of a defect list entryillustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, a defect list entry # i 500 includes statusinformation 510, a physical address 520 of a defect block, and aphysical address 530 of a replacement block.

The status information 510 is defect status information of defectblocks, the physical address 520 of the defect block is a physicaladdress at which the defect block is located within a user data area,and the physical address 530 of the replacement block is a physicaladdress at which the replacement block is located within a spare area.

FIG. 6 is a reference diagram illustrating the status information of thedefect list entry # 500 illustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the status information 510 includes five states,“1,” “2,” “3,” “4,” and “5.”

Status information “1” indicates a status of a defect block with areplacement block. In this case, a physical address of the defect blockindicates a physical address of a defect block within a user data area.A physical address of the replacement block is a physical address atwhich a replacement block that replaces the defect block is recorded ina spare area.

Status information “2” indicates a status of a defect block without areplacement block. In this case, a physical address of the defect blockindicates a physical address of a replacement block within a user data.

Status information “3” indicates a status of a usable block of the sparearea. This is for indicating a status of a block existing in the sparearea. In this case, a physical address of a replacement block indicatesa physical address of a usable block among unreplaced blocks of thespare area.

Status information “4” indicates a status of an unusable block of thespare area. This is for indicating a status of a block existing in thespare area. In this case, a physical address of a replacement blockindicates a physical address of an unusable block among unreplacedblocks of the spare area.

Status information “5” indicates a status of a possible defective block.In this case, a physical address of a block with a possible but not yetverified defect is indicated.

FIG. 7 is a reference diagram illustrating usage directions of a userdata area and a spare area in a single recording layer disc according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, if a usage direction of the user data area is froma lead-in area to a lead-out area in a data area and only a spare area #1 is initially allocated, a spare area # 2 can be newly allocated in thedata area near the lead-out area, as illustrated in FIG. 7, and if aspare area # 2 is already initially allocated, the spare area # 2 can beenlarged in an opposite direction of the usage direction of the userdata area. As such, by considering the usage directions of the user dataarea and the spare area, a new spare area can be allocated or a sparearea can be enlarged more conveniently.

FIG. 8 is a reference diagram illustrating usage directions of a userdata area and a spare area in a double recording layer disc according toan embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, if a usage direction of the user data area is froma lead-in area # 0 to a lead-in area # 1 via a lead-out area # 0 and alead-out area # 1 in a data area and only spare areas # 1, 2, and 3 areinitially allocated, a spare area # 4 can be newly allocated in the dataarea near the lead-out area # 1, as illustrated in FIG. 8, and if aspare area # 4 is already initially allocated, the spare area # 4 can beenlarged in an opposite direction of the usage direction of the userdata area. As such, by considering the usage directions of the user dataarea and the spare area, a new spare area can be allocated or a sparearea can be enlarged more conveniently.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are reference diagrams describing a method of processinga defect list entry of a block within a newly allocated spare areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a view illustrating a status of a data block in a singlelayer disc in which only a spare area # 1 is allocated and used at theinitialization, and FIG. 9B is a view illustrating processed statusinformation of blocks included in a spare area # 2 in the disc, whichhas the spare area # 2 allocated therein while using the disc.

Referring to FIG. 9A, only a spare area # 1 is initially allocated in adata area, and thus the data area includes the spare area # 1 and a userdata area.

Blocks {circle around (1)}, {circle around (3)} and {circle around (4)}are recorded at the end of the user data area. The block {circle around(1)} is a defect block, and a replacement block {circle around (2)} thatis to replace the defect block is recorded in the spare area # 1. Theblock {circle around (3)} is a defect block, but does not have areplacement block to replace the defect block in the spare area # 1. Theblock {circle around (4)} is a possible defective block.

While using the disc in the current state, if a spare area # 2 isallocated at the end of the user data area including an area in whichthe blocks {circle around (1)}, {circle around (3)}, and {circle around(4)} are newly allocated, the current state becomes as illustrated inFIG. 9B.

Referring to FIG. 9B, a spare area # 2 is allocated at the end of thedata area, and thus the data area includes the spare area # 1, the userdata area, and the spare area # 2.

In this case, regarding the block {circle around (1)} that has thereplacement block, a defect list entry is recorded indicating that thedefect block {circle around (1)} and the replacement block {circlearound (2)} are unusable blocks of a spare area. That is, a defect listentry of a defect block having a replacement block is converted into twodefect list entries indicating unusable blocks of a spare area.

The need for registering the defect list entries indicating the defectblock {circle around (1)} and the replacement block {circle around (2)}are unusable blocks of the spare area is as follows. As described abovewith reference to FIG. 7, in the single layer disc the usage directionof the spare area # 2 is set as the opposite of the usage direction ofthe user data area to make expansion of the spare area # 2. That is, thespare area # 2 is used in the direction from an outer circumference tothe inner circumference of the disc. Thus, when a defect block with areplacement block is inside the expanded spare area # 2, a replacementblock that replaces the defect block is not actually a defect block.However, considering the usage direction of the spare area # 2, thereplacement block should not be used. In addition, the defect blockwithin the enlarged spare area # 2 already has a defect, and thus thedefect block should not be used as a replacement block. If the defectblock is not registered as a defect list entry indicating the defectblock is an unusable block of a spare area, a drive system will use thedefect block for replacement in the future. However, because the defectblock had a defect beforehand, reliability of data of the defect blockis not guaranteed. In addition, even if the data is verified afterwriting the data on the defect block, there is a high possibility thatthe defect block can develop a defect again because the defect blockalready had a defect. Therefore, if the defect block is determined tohave a defect, the defect block will be replaced with the next block ofthe spare area based on the usage order of the spare area. In thisprocess, a lot of time is wasted in replacing the defect blocks, andresults in lowering the efficiency of the drive system. Therefore, byregistering the defect block within the enlarged spare area # 2indicating the defect block is an unusable block of a spare area,unnecessary operations of the drive system is reduced while maintainingthe efficiency of the drive system.

Also, regarding the block {circle around (3)} without the replacementblock, a defect list entry indicating the defect block {circle around(3)} is an unusable block of a spare area is recorded thereon. In thiscase, a defect list entry is changed into a defect list entry of a sparearea.

Regarding the block {circle around (4)} with a possible defect,certification of the block {circle around (4)} located in the actualphysical address may be performed or a defect list entry according to apre-set plan without certification may be recorded thereon. In moredetail, in the case of certifying a possible defective block andregistering a defect list entry according to the result of thecertification, when there is no defect in the block after certificationof the block, a defect list entry indicating the block is a usable blockof the spare area is registered thereon, and if there is a defect in theblock, a defect list entry indicating the block is an unusable block ofa spare area is registered thereon. In the case of registering a defectlist entry without certification of the block according to the pre-setplan, a defect list entry indicating the block is a usable or anunusable block of a spare area according to a predetermined rule (i.e.,a selection of a drive manufacturer or a user) is registered.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are reference diagrams for describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within an enlarged spare areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10A is a view illustrating a status of a data block in a singlelayer disc in which spare areas # 1 and # 2 are allocated and used atthe initialization, and FIG. 10B is a view illustrating processed statusinformation of blocks included in an enlarged spare area # 2 when thespare area # 2 needs to be enlarged while using the disc.

Referring to FIG. 10A, initially, a data area includes the spare area #1, a user data area, and the spare area # 2. Blocks {circle around (5)},{circle around (7)}, and {circle around (8)} are located at the end ofthe user data area. Block {circle around (5)} is a defect block, and areplacement block {circle around (6)} is located in the spare area # 2to replace the defect block. Block {circle around (7)} is also a defectblock and has a defect therein, but a replacement block to replace thedefect block does not exist in either the spare area # 1 or the sparearea # 2. Block {circle around (8)} is a possible defective block.

In such a state, if the spare area # 2 is expanded to the user data areawhere the blocks {circle around (5)}, {circle around (7)}, and {circlearound (8)} are located while using the disc, the current state becomesas illustrated in FIG. 10B.

Referring to FIG. 10B, the data area includes the spare area # 1, theuser data area, and the enlarged spare area # 2.

In this case, regarding the defect block {circle around (5)} with thereplacement block, a defect list entry indicating that the defect block{circle around (5)} is an unusable block of the spare area and a defectlist entry indicating that the replacement block {circle around (6)} isan unusable block of the spare area are registered. That is, a defectlist entry of a defect block having a replacement block is convertedinto two defect list entries indicating unusable blocks of the sparearea.

Regarding the block {circle around (7)} without the replacement block, adefect list entry indicating the defect block {circle around (7)} is anunusable block of a spare area is registered. In this case, one defectlist entry is changed into one defect list entry of a spare area.

The possible defective block {circle around (8)} may be examined ifthere is a defect block in the block {circle around (8)} at the actualphysical address. Alternatively, a defect list entry according to apre-set plan without certification may be registered. In more detail, inthe case of examining the possible defective block {circle around (8)}and registering the defect list entry according to the result of thecertification, when there is no defect in the block {circle around (8)}after examining the block {circle around (8)}, a defect list entryindicating the block {circle around (8)} is a usable block of a sparearea is registered, and if there is a defect in the block {circle around(8)}, a defect list entry indicating the block {circle around (8)} is anunusable block of a spare area is registered. In the case of registeringa defect list entry without examining the block {circle around (8)}according to the pre-set plan, a defect list entry indicating the block{circle around (8)} is a usable or an unusable block of a spare areaaccording to a predetermined rule (i.e., a selection of a drivemanufacturer or a user) may be registered.

So far, the description was related to a single recording layer disc,but the same method applies to a double layer recording disc.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are reference diagrams illustrating a method ofchanging defect list entries of blocks within a newly allocated orenlarged spare area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 11A and 11B, a changed state of defect list entriesin situations described in FIGS. 9A through 10B is illustrated. A defectlist entry before enlarging or allocating blocks, illustrated in FIG.11A, is the defect list entry indicating the status information of theblocks before enlarging or newly allocating the spare area illustratedin FIG. 9A or 10A. A defect list entry after enlarging or allocatingblocks, illustrated in FIG. 11B, is the defect list entry indicating thestatus information of the blocks after enlarging or newly allocating thespare area illustrated in FIG. 9B or 10B.

As described with reference to FIG. 6, status information “1” indicatesstatus of a defect block with a replacement block, status information“2” indicates status of a defect block without a replacement block,status information “3” indicates status of a possible defective block,status information “4” indicates a status of a usable block of a sparearea, and status information “5” indicates a status of an unusable blockof a spare area.

For a defect list entry of block {circle around (1)} before enlarging orallocating a spare area, its status information is “1,” a physicaladdress of a defect block is “0010000h,” and a physical address of areplacement block is “0100000h.” After the spare area is enlarged ornewly allocated regarding the block {circle around (1)}, two defect listentries are registered as illustrated in FIG. 11B. That is, the twodefect list entries are a defect list entry with status informationregarding a defect block {circle around (1)} is “4” and a physicaladdress of a replacement block is “0010110h”; and a defect list entrywith status information regarding a replacement block is “5” and aphysical address of the replacement block is “0100000h.”

A defect list entry of block {circle around (3)} before enlarging orallocating a spare area has status information of “2,” a physicaladdress of a defect block is “0010100h,” and since there is noreplacement block, there is no physical address of a replacement block.After the spare area is enlarged or newly allocated regarding the block{circle around (3)}, a defect list entry with status information of “5”and a physical address of a replacement block as “0010100h” isregistered as illustrated in FIG. 11B.

A defect list entry of block {circle around (4)} before enlarging orallocating a spare area has status information of “3,” a physicaladdress of a defect block is “0010110h,” and since there is noreplacement block, there is no a physical address of a replacementblock. After the spare area is enlarged or newly allocated regarding theblock {circle around (4)}, a defect list entry with status informationof “4” and a physical address of a replacement block as “0010110h” isregistered as illustrated in FIG. 11B. Accordingly a variety of methodsof registering a defect list entry of a possible defective block wasdescribed above.

All blocks within the enlarged or newly allocated spare area is one of adefect block with a replacement block, a usable block of a spare area,and/or an unusable spare block. Therefore, the number of blocks of theoverall spare area satisfies the following Equation.

No. of Blocks of Overall Spare Area=No. of Usable Blocks of SpareArea+No. of Unusable Blocks of Spare Area+No. of Defect Blocks withReplacement block  (1)

In other words, for each of the blocks within the spare area, a physicaladdress of the replacement block is a physical address of the blockswithin the spare area, and only a defect list entry having statusinformation of “1,” “4,” or “5” is possible. Of course, in the case ofthe replacement block, a physical address of a defect block of a defectlist entry of the replacement block needs to be a physical address of ablock within a user data area.

FIG. 12A is a view of a status of data of a defect list header 120 rightbefore enlarging or allocating a spare area according to an embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 12B is a view of a status of data of thedefect list header 120 right after enlarging or allocating the sparearea according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 12A, the defect list header 120 includes a defect listidentifier 121, and a spare area in which no more replacement blocks areleft because they are all used for replacement. Therefore, the number ofusable spare blocks 124 is “0.” Also, the number of unusable spareblocks 125 is also “0” because blocks within the spare area aresatisfactory. The number of defect blocks with a replacement block 122is “N−M−1,” the number of defect blocks without an alternative bock 123is “M,” and the number of possible defective blocks 126 is “1.”

Therefore, a total of N−M−1+0+0+1=N defect list entries exist. Also, thenumber of total blocks of the spare area is “number of defect blockswith replacement blocks 122”+number of usable spare blocks 124”+numberof unusable spare blocks 125”=N−M−1+0+0=N−M−1.

In such a state, it is assumed that a spare area with S blocks isenlarged or newly allocated because there is no block of the spare areato replace. Also, it is assumed that there is one defect block with areplacement block, one defect block without a replacement block, and onepossible defective block within the enlarged or newly allocated sparearea, as illustrated in FIG. 11A. Then, immediately after enlarging orallocating the spare area, the spare area is changed into a defect listentry as illustrated in FIG. 11B, and the contents of the defect listheader 120 is changed as illustrated in FIG. 12B. That is, the number ofdefect blocks with the replacement block 122 is changed from “N−M−1” to“N−M−2,” the number of defect blocks without the alternative bock 123 ischanged from “M” to “M−1,” the number of usable spare blocks 124 ischanged from “0” to S−2, the number of unusable spare blocks 125 ischanged from “0” to “3,” and the number of possible defective blocks 126is changed from “1” to “0.”

Therefore, a total of N−M−2+M−1+S−2+3+0=N+S−2 defect list entries exist.Also, “a number of blocks of the overall spare area” is “N−M−1” beforeenlarging or allocating the spare area and is “S” after enlarging orallocating the spare area. Thus, “the number of blocks of the overallspare area”=N−M−1+S, and “the number of defect blocks with thereplacement block 122”+“the number of usable spare blocks 124”+“thenumber of unusable spare blocks 125”=N−M−2+S−2+3=N−M−1+S. Therefore,Equation 1 is satisfied.

FIGS. 13A through 13C are flowcharts illustrating a method of defectmanagement in an optical recording medium according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 13A, first, a spare area is newly allocated to apredetermined area of a disc or the existing spare area is enlarged(Operation 131). That is, when all of the spare area existing in thedisc is used up or there is not much space left in the spare area, a newspare area is allocated or the spare area is enlarged.

Then, defect status of blocks existing in the newly allocated orenlarged spare area is checked (Operation 132). That is, by managing thedefect status of the blocks in the newly allocated or enlarged sparearea, blocks with a defect or a high possibility of a defect occurrencewithin the spare area are not used again.

It is examined whether the block within the newly allocated or enlargedspare area is a defect block (Operation 133).

If the block is not a defect block, the next operation is performed, andif the block is a defect block, it is examined whether the defect blockhas a replacement block (Operation 134).

If the certification result indicates that the defect block has areplacement block, defect status information indicating the defect blockand the replacement block cannot be used is recorded on the disc(Operation 135). In other words, a defect list entry including defectstatus information indicating unusable blocks of a spare area for eachof the replacement block and the defect block are recorded in the defectlist.

If the certification result indicates that the defect block does nothave a replacement block, defect status information indicating thedefect block cannot be used is recorded on the disc (Operation 136). Aspreviously described, a defect list entry including defect statusinformation indicating an unusable block of the spare area for thedefect block is recorded in the defect list.

Next, referring to FIG. 13B, in operation 137, it is examined whetherthe block within the newly allocated or enlarged spare area has apossibility of a defect.

If it is determined that the block does not have a possibility of adefect, operation {circle around (B)} is performed.

When the block has a possibility of a defect, it is determined whetherto examine the block in the actual physical address (Operation 138). Inother words, it is determined whether to examine the possible defectiveblock according to a rule.

When a rule that does not require a possible defective block to beexamined is set, defect status information indicating a replacementblock that can or cannot be used according to a selection of a drivemanufacturer or a user is written on the disc (Operation 143).

When a rule that registers defect status information according to thecertification results of a possible defective block is set, the possibledefective block in the actual physical address is examined (Operation139).

After determining whether a defect is found from the certificationresult (Operation 140), if it is determined that there is a defect, adefect list entry including defect status information indicating anunusable replacement block is written on the disc (Operation 141).

If a defect is not found from the certification result, a defect listentry including defect status information indicating a usablereplacement block is written on the disc (Operation 142).

Next, referring to FIG. 13C, the method moves to operation 144.

Whether the block within the enlarged or newly allocated spare area hasdefect status information (i.e., whether the block within the enlargedor newly allocated spare area has a defect list entry) is checked. Ifthe block does not have the defect list entry, a defect list entryincluding defect status information indicating a usable replacementblock is written on the disc (Operation 144).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a method of defect management in aonce recording storage medium according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 14, it is determined whether a block within anenlarged or newly allocated spare area is already used (Operation 151).

If the certification result indicates that the block has been alreadyused, a defect list entry including defect status information indicatingan unusable replacement block is written on the disc (Operation 152).

If the certification result indicates that the block has not yet beenused, a defect list entry including defect status information indicatinga usable replacement block is written on the disc (Operation 153).

A method of processing a defect list entry according to anotherembodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 15 through 19.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are reference diagrams describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within a newly allocated sparearea according to the other embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a view illustrating a status of a data block in a singlerecording layer disc in which only a spare area # 1 is allocated andused at the initialization, and FIG. 15B is a view illustratingprocessed status information of blocks included in a spare area # 2 inthe disc, which has the spare area # 2 allocated therein while using thedisc.

FIG. 15A is identical to FIG. 9A, and FIG. 15B is similar to FIG. 9Bexcept for a replacement block {circle around (2)} that is located inthe spare area # 1.

Referring to FIG. 15B, a defect list entry indicating the block {circlearound (1)} in the spare area # 2 is an unusable block of a spare areaand a defect list entry indicating the block {circle around (3)} in thespare area # 2 is an unusable block of the spare area are registered,respectively, and a defect list entry indicating a block {circle around(2)} in the spare area # 1 is a usable block of the spare area isregistered. That is, the blocks {circle around (1)} and {circle around(3)} are indicated as unusable blocks because they are defect blockswith defects, but the block {circle around (2)} is indicated as a usableblock since it does not have a defect therein.

In the present embodiment, after the spare area # 2 is newly allocated,the replacement block {circle around (2)} in the spare area # 1 isregistered as the defect list entry indicating it is the unusable blockof the spare area in consideration of the usage direction of the sparearea. However, in the present embodiment, the replacement block {circlearound (2)} may also be registered as a defect list entry indicating itis a usable block of the spare area in order to use the disc withoutwasting any space of the spare area by using blocks that are usablebecause there is no defect in them even if the order of blocks does notcoincide with the usage direction of the spare area.

FIGS. 16A and 16B are reference diagrams for describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within an enlarged spare areaaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16A is a view illustrating a status of a data block in a singlerecording layer disc in which spare areas # 1 and # 2 are allocated andused at the initialization, and FIG. 16B is a view illustratingprocessed status information of blocks included in an enlarged sparearea # 2 when the spare area # 2 needs to be enlarged while using thedisc.

FIG. 16A is identical to FIG. 10A, and FIG. 16B is similar to FIG. 10Bexcept for the replacement block {circle around (6)}.

Referring to FIG. 16B, a defect list entry indicating the block {circlearound (5)} in the spare area # 2 is an unusable block of a spare areaand a defect list entry indicating the block {circle around (7)} in thespare area # 2 is an unusable block of the spare area are registered,respectively, and a defect list entry indicating a block {circle around(6)} in the spare area # 2 before being enlarged is a usable block ofthe spare area is registered. That is, the blocks {circle around (5)}and {circle around (7)} are indicated as unusable blocks because theyhave defects, but the block {circle around (6)} is indicated as a usableblock because it does not have a defect therein.

In the present embodiment, after the spare area # 2 was enlarged, thereplacement block {circle around (6)} was registered as a defect listentry indicating it is an unusable block of a spare area inconsideration of the usage direction of the spare area. But, in thepresent embodiment, the replacement block {circle around (2)} may alsobe registered as a defect list entry indicating it is a usable block ofthe spare area. Accordingly, the disc can be used without wasting anyspace of the spare area by using blocks that are usable because there isno defect in them even if the blocks do not coincide with the usagedirection of the spare area.

FIGS. 17A and 17B are reference diagrams for describing changing of thelist entry of the blocks within the newly allocated or enlarged sparearea according to the other embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 17A and 17B illustrate a changed state of defect list entries insituations illustrated in FIGS. 15A through 16B. A defect list entrybefore enlarging or newly allocating a spare area illustrated in 17A isthe defect list entry indicating the status information of the blocksbefore enlarging or newly allocating the spare area illustrated in FIG.15A or 16A. A defect list entry after enlarging or newly allocatingblocks illustrated in FIG. 17B is the defect list entry indicating thestatus information of the blocks after enlarging or newly allocating thespare area illustrated in FIG. 15B or 16B.

The situations illustrated in FIGS. 17A and 17B are similar to thoseillustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B according to an embodiment of thepresent embodiment except for the replacement block {circle around (2)},which can be seen that the status information of the replacement block{circle around (2)} changes according to an embodiment of the presentembodiment.

An aspect of the present embodiment is to make replacement blocks of aspare area become usable blocks in a newly allocated or enlarged sparearea. Referring to FIG. 17B, status information of a replacement block{circle around (2)} is registered as “4.” That is, status informationindicating the replacement block {circle around (2)} is a usable blockis contained in a defect list entry of the replacement block {circlearound (2)}.

FIG. 18 is a view of a status of data of a defect list header rightafter enlarging or newly allocating the spare area according to theother embodiment of the present invention. That is, an update of thedefect list header 120 right after enlarging or newly allocating thespare area is illustrated in FIG. 18 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 18, which is similar to that of FIG. 12B, it can beseen that only the number of usable spare blocks 124 and the number ofunusable spare area blocks 125 illustrated in FIG. 12B are differentfrom the number of usable spare blocks 124 and the number of unusablespare area blocks 125 illustrated in FIG. 18B. That is, in the presentembodiment, the blocks that cannot use the replacement block {circlearound (2)} were indicated, but in the present embodiment, blocks thatcan use the replacement block {circle around (2)} are indicated. Thus,only parts related to this change are altered. In more detail, thenumber of usable spare blocks 124 increases by one compared to that ofFIG. 12B and thus S−1 is registered, and the number of unusable sparearea blocks 125 decreases by one compared to that of FIG. 12B and thus“2” is registered.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a method of defect managementaccording to the other embodiment of the present invention. Compared toFIG. 13A only the part which processes a replacement block that replacesdefect blocks in a newly allocated or enlarged spare area is different.

Referring to FIG. 19, first, a spare area is newly allocated to apredetermined area of a disc or the existing spare area is enlarged(Operation 191). That is, when all of the spare area existing in thedisc is used up or there is not much space left in the spare area, a newspare area is allocated or the spare area is enlarged.

Then, a defect status of blocks existing in the newly allocated orenlarged spare area is checked (Operation 192). That is, by managing thedefect status of the blocks in the newly allocated or enlarged sparearea, blocks with a defect or a high possibility of a defect occurrencewithin the spare area are not used again.

Thereafter, it is examined whether the block within the newly allocatedor enlarged spare area is a defect block (Operation 193).

If the block is not a defect block, the next operation is performed, andif the block is a defect block, it is examined whether the defect blockhas a replacement block (Operation 194).

If the certification result indicates that the defect block does nothave a replacement block, defect status information indicating thedefect block is an unusable replacement block is recorded on the disc(Operation 196). In other words, a defect list entry including defectstatus information indicating an unusable block of the spare area forthe defect block is recorded in the defect list.

If the certification result indicates that the defect block has areplacement block, defect status information indicating the replacementblock is a usable replacement block is recorded on the disc (Operation195). Then, regarding the defect block, defect status informationindicating the defect block is an unusable replacement block is recordedon the disc (Operation 196).

In the embodiments of the present invention, it was decided that thedefect blocks or the replacement blocks in the newly allocated orenlarged spare area. However, the deciding of the usable or unusableblocks of the spare area can be changed according to a variety of rulesof the drive system or the manufacturer if the blocks satisfyEquation 1. Another embodiment according to the present inventionconsiders this situation.

That is, in order to satisfy Equation 1, when a defect list requires anupdate due to enlarging the spare area or allocating a new spare areawhile using the disc, a defect list entry indicating the defect block orthe replacement block is a usable block for replacement or a defect listentry indicating the defect block or the replacement block is anunusable block for replacement is registered regarding the defect blockand the replacement block within the enlarged or newly allocated sparearea while using the disc.

That is, when a physical address of a defect block with a replacementblock is located within the enlarged or the newly allocated spare area,a defect list entry indicating the defect block is a usable or unusableblock for replacement is registered. Also, a defect list entryindicating that the defect block is a usable or unusable block forreplacement is registered.

When a physical address of a defect block without a replacement block islocated within the enlarged or the newly allocated spare area, a defectlist entry indicating that the defect block is a usable or unusable forreplacement is registered.

When a physical address of a possible defective block is located withinthe enlarged or the newly allocated spare area, a defect list entryindicating that the defect block is a usable or unusable for replacementis registered.

FIGS. 20A and 20B are reference diagrams describing a method ofprocessing a defect list entry of a block within a newly allocated sparearea according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20A is a view illustrating a status of a data block in a singlerecording layer disc in which only a spare area # 1 is allocated andused at the initialization. FIG. 20B is a view illustrating processedstatus information of blocks included in a spare area # 2 in the disc,which has the spare area # 2 allocated therein while using the disc.

FIG. 20A is the same as FIG. 15A.

Referring to FIG. 20B, in order to make all blocks, a block {circlearound (2)} in the spare area # 1 and blocks {circle around (1)},{circle around (3)}, and {circle around (4)} in the spare area # 2,usable or unusable according to a predetermined rule, all the blocks areregistered as a defect list entry indicating they are usable or unusableblocks of a spare area.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a method of defect management ofrecordable optical recording medium according to the other embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 21, first, a spare area is newly allocated to apredetermined area of a disc or the existing spare area is enlarged(Operation 211). That is, when all of the spare area existing in thedisc is used up or there is not much space left in the spare area, a newspare area is allocated or the spare area is enlarged.

Then, a defect status of blocks existing in the newly allocated orenlarged spare area is checked (Operation 212). That is, by managing thedefect status of the blocks in the newly allocated or enlarged sparearea, blocks with a defect or a high possibility of a defect occurrencewithin the spare area are not used again.

Thereafter, it is examined whether the block within the newly allocatedor enlarged spare area is a defect block (Operation 213).

If the block is a defect block, it is examined whether the defect blockhas a replacement block (Operation 214).

If the certification result indicates that the defect block does nothave a replacement block, defect status information indicating that thedefect block is a usable or unusable replacement block is recorded onthe disc according to a predetermined rule (Operation 216). In otherwords, regarding the defect block, a defect list entry including defectstatus information indicating a usable or unusable block of the sparearea according to the predetermined rule is recorded in a defect list.

If the certification result indicates that the defect block has areplacement block, defect status information indicating the replacementblock is a usable or unusable block is recorded on the disc according toa predetermined rule (Operation 215). Then, regarding the defect block,defect status information indicating the defect block is a usable orunusable replacement block is recorded on the disc according to thepredetermined rule (Operation 216).

If determined that the block with the newly allocated or enlarged sparearea is a defect block, it is determined whether the block has apossibility of a defect in operation 217.

When determined that the block has a possibility of a defect, defectstatus information indicating that the block is a usable or unusablereplacement block is recorded according to a predetermined rule(Operation 218).

FIG. 22 is a view of an exemplary method of processing a defect listentry for improving performance of a drive according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 22, when a defect block with a replacement blockand/or a defect block without a replacement block and a possibledefective block are within a user data area even after the spare area isenlarged or newly allocated, the current state is maintained withoutchanging the defect list entry.

Also, because the spare area is enlarged or a new spare area isallocated, a replacement block in the spare area before enlarging thespare area or newly allocating a spare area cannot exist in the userdata area after enlarging or newly allocating the spare area.

When a defect block with a replacement block before enlarging the sparearea or newly allocating a spare area is included in the spare areaafter enlarging or newly allocating the spare area, it is preferable,but not necessary, to change a defect list entry into the defect listentry indicating that the defect block is an unusable replacement block.

In the case a replacement block is included in the spare area afterenlarging or newly allocating the spare area, when a defect blockcorresponding to the replacement block is located in the spare areaafter the spare area is enlarged or newly allocated, it is preferable,but not necessary, to register a defect list entry indicating that thereplacement block is a usable replacement block. This is preferable, butnot necessary, since the replacement block can no longer actually act asa replacement block of the defect block, and this way, the replacementblock can be used to replace another defect block.

In case a replacement block before enlarging the spare area or newlyallocating the spare area is included in the spare area after enlargingor newly allocating the spare area, when a defect block corresponding tothe replacement block is located in the user data area after the sparearea is enlarged or newly allocated, it is preferable, but notnecessary, that the defect list entry regarding the replacement block toremain in the same state as before enlarging or newly allocating thespare area. Since the defect block corresponding to the replacementblock is located in the user data area after the spare area is enlargedor newly allocated, it is preferable, but not necessary, to maintain thedefect list entry in the current state because the replacement block isan effective block which replaces the defect block.

When a defect block of a defect list entry without a replacement blockbefore enlarging the spare area or newly allocating a spare area isincluded in the spare area after enlarging or newly allocating the sparearea, it is preferable, but not necessary, to register a defect listentry indicating that the defect block is an unusable replacement block.

When a defect block of a defect list entry with a defect possibilitybefore enlarging the spare area or newly allocating a spare area isincluded in the spare area after enlarging or newly allocating the sparearea, it is preferable, but not necessary, to register a defect listentry indicating that the defect block is an unusable replacement block.

Up to now, a method of processing a defect list entry within an enlargedor newly allocated spare area in a rewrite information storage mediumhas been described. However, if the method is applied in a write-onceinformation storage medium, all blocks already written in an enlarged ornewly allocated spare area needs to be registered as a defect list entry(status information “5”) for unusable blocks of the spare area due tothe characteristics of the write-once information storage medium thatcannot be overwritten.

According to an aspect of the present invention, by managing defectstatus information of blocks in an enlarged or newly allocated sparearea, unnecessary operations of a drive system may be prevented, andthus improving the efficiency of the drive system.

The method of defect management can also be embodied as computerreadable codes on a computer readable recording medium. The computerreadable recording medium is any data storage device that can store datawhich can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of thecomputer readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM),random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy discs,optical data storage devices, and carrier waves (such as datatransmission through the Internet). The computer readable recordingmedium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems sothat the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributedfashion. Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments foraccomplishing the method of defect management can be easily construed byprogrammers skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown anddescribed, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatchanges may be made in this embodiment without departing from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined inthe claims and their equivalents. The embodiments should be consideredin descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore,the scope of the invention is defined not by the description of theinvention but by the appended claims, and all differences within thescope will be construed as being included in the present invention.

1. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus that records or reproducesdata on or from an information recording medium, comprising: a readingand/or writing unit that reads the data from the information recordingmedium and/or writes the data on the information recording medium; and adefect managing unit that generates a second defect list entry when ablock corresponding to a first defect list entry exists within anenlarged or newly allocated spare area, wherein the first defect listentry comprises status information indicating that a defective blockdoes not have a corresponding replacement block for replacing thedefective block, and first information indicating a location of thedefective block, and the second defect list entry comprises statusinformation indicating that the replacement block is an unusable blockfor replacing the defective block, and second information indicating alocation of the replacement block.
 2. An information recording mediumfor using with a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, comprising: afirst defect list entry comprises status information indicating that adefective block does not have a corresponding replacement block forreplacing the defective block, and first information indicating alocation of the defective block, wherein a second defect list entry isrecorded on the information recording medium, when the defective blockcorresponding to the first defect list entry exists within an enlargedor newly allocated spare area, and the second defect list entrycomprises status information indicating that the replacement block is anunusable block for replacing the defective block, and second informationindicating a location of the replacement block.